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Classic 3 and Zephyr

I installed a Soundsmith Zephyr on a Classic 3 using the supplied jig and I was surprised how far back the cartridge had to be set back in the shell head. It's so far back the connecting wires seem tight. Being the Zephyr had the input from VPI I'm surprised by this. Does anyone with this same setup concerned that the cart sits so far back on the shell head?
nedmoto
brf
1,715 posts
 
It was worth repeating :-)
nedmoto OP
8 posts
 
I did speak with Mike today. He said he's probably mounted about twenty Zephyrs and they do sit far back in the head shell as far as I previously mentioned. He didn't real have any explanation why SS designed it that way, and he too thought it was odd since it was designed for VPI. I measured the bearing-spindle distance and it's the 262mm mentioned. I took a picture (wish I could post it here) and sent to Mike so he could see it.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I've figured it out (I think). The issue is the distance from the cart's mounting holes to its stylus tip. I just held another cartridge up next to the Zephyr and it's obvious that this distance (in the other cart) is less than it is on the Zephyr. So, to compensate, the Zephyr has to be moved back in the slot.
brf
1,715 posts
 
If you increase the bearing to spindle distance by a millimeter or two, this will allow you to shift your cartridge forward in the head shell and still hit the cross hair dot on the vpi jig.
nedmoto OP
8 posts
 
Mike is going to make me a wand a few mm shorter. I have a Clearaudio Maestro that is being re-tipped at Soundsmith now. That will be the perfect solution as I'll be able to keep both carts attached for an easy swap. Thanks again for all the responses.
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